TF2 has the worst optimization I've ever seen in a released game. So that's probably at least part if not most of your problem. I can get 150-220 FPS on a map by myself with Chris's Max Quality config, but when playing with a team of players or bots, my FPS can be 40-10 FPS with sudden spikes that go down to around 5 FPS. It wasn't even always like this, it just got worse over time.

TF2 has the worst optimization I've ever seen in a released game. So that's probably at least part if not most of your problem. I can get 150-220 FPS on a map by myself with Chris's Max Quality config, but when playing with a team of players or bots, my FPS can be 40-10 FPS with sudden spikes that go down to around 5 FPS. It wasn't even always like this, it just got worse over time.

TF2 has the worst optimization I've ever seen in a released game. So that's probably at least part if not most of your problem. I can get 150-220 FPS on a map by myself with Chris's Max Quality config, but when playing with a team of players or bots, my FPS can be 40-10 FPS with sudden spikes that go down to around 5 FPS. It wasn't even always like this, it just got worse over time.

The only thing I can think of is maybe when you're facing a graphics intensive area, like with a lot of people on screen or at a part where you can see a lot of the map at once or something. Or even when there's lots of explosions, fire, bullets etc going on. (sometimes it seems it may not even matter if you SEE it, as long as you're facing the graphics intensive part)

But that's just a theory. Maybe mess around with the settings a bit? Turn off some Anti-aliasing / Anisotropy(?) filtering / water effects / etc?

The only thing I can think of is maybe when you're facing a graphics intensive area, like with a lot of people on screen or at a part where you can see a lot of the map at once or something. Or even when there's lots of explosions, fire, bullets etc going on. (sometimes it seems it may not even matter if you SEE it, as long as you're facing the graphics intensive part)

But that's just a theory. Maybe mess around with the settings a bit? Turn off some Anti-aliasing / Anisotropy(?) filtering / water effects / etc?